9th Post - Networking with max objects netsend/netreceive

After the last performance of the composition i decided that i needed to try networking the the computers together in order to give me more control when test and performing the piece. Using the netsend and netreceive objects in Max MSP it is possible to send audio from one main computer that will be received on multiple machines. This means the start, stop, volume and play back speed can all be controlled from one machine. To make this work, i first built a small patch to test sending one or two tracks of audio.

This was successful so i moved on to building a version which would play all the twelve parts of my composition. I am yet to test this version and the patch below shows the same ip address for each buffer/groove. When i test this version i will need to fill in the correct ip address for each machine. The patch also contains a randomised gate which will route the kick drum between all of the different machines although it is not yet connected.

It is hard to predict how well the network will cope with sending so much audio. If there is only a little latency then this may contribute an interesting unpredictability to the piece and work in a similar way to Phil Kline's multiple cassette recorders. However, if the network cannot cope with this much audio then the effect may be unpleasant and make the music completely in-cohesive and unlistenable. If this is the case i will need to reconsider my options. One possibility is only sending control information via the network and having the audio files on each computer. This would still allow me to control certain aspects from a central computer. Another possibility is to change the nature of the composition. I could use less channels and machines and smaller sections of audio. It would be interesting to explore aspects of Riley's In C and the In B Flat piece which allow you to build up combinations of audio that all work together but would lead to a different result at each performance.

Another aspect that i am keen to add to my piece is a visual one. I would like the screens of each machine to light up when the machine is playing a sound. The video below shows two examples of networked computers playing music and the second example uses the screens to add a visual element.